Boise Agency Predicts Normal Wildfire Threat for Most of Idaho

The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise has released its annual prediction for the summer wildfire season. Parts of ten Western states – including Idaho - are at higher than usual risk of wildfires.

The annual forecast predicts the majority of the West will see a normal threat of fires. But significant sections of Arizona, Nevada and California stand a better chance than usual of having wildfires this year. Areas of New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming will as well. Only small parts of Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Hawaii are included in that classification. The Idaho section is in the extreme southwestern part of the state. The prediction for the rest of Idaho is for a normal summer threat.

Much of this year’s report focuses on how the La Nina weather pattern has affected the West. Forecasters say how the wildfire season will play out could depend on if there’s a transition to an El Nino pattern. In some states, that would mean cooler and wetter weather than usual. In others, it could make fires more likely